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Talbutal is a short to intermediate-acting barbiturate. Barbiturates act as nonselective depressants of the central nervous system (CNS), capable of producing all levels of CNS mood alteration from excitation to mild sedation, hypnosis, and deep coma. In sufficiently high therapeutic doses, barbiturates induce anesthesia.[1]

Talbutal binds at a distinct binding site associated with a Cl− ionopore at the GABAA receptor, increasing the duration of time for which the Cl− ionopore is open. The post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA in the thalamus is, therefore, prolonged.